Posts Tagged ‘Classical Performance and Composition’


Composer Austin Wintory conducting an orchestra behind a podium on a sound stage.

Austin Wintory composed score for “Eternal Strands”

June 18, 2025

USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Austin Wintory (‘07) composed the score for the video game “Eternal Strands,” developed by Yellow Brick Games. “Eternal Strands” is a fantasy, action-adventure video game starring a female protagonist with magical abilities who must save the world. “This was about four years of collaboration and joyous experimentation,” Wintory shared in… Continue reading Austin Wintory composed score for “Eternal Strands”


The SAKURA Cello Quintet.

SAKURA Cello Quintet debuts Donald Crockett’s “Carving an Alphabet”

June 11, 2025

On May 18, the SAKURA Cello Quintet gave the debut performance of Carving an Alphabet, a set of 12 madrigals for five cellos, written by USC Thornton Chair of Composition Donald Crockett for New Music USA. The SAKURA Cello Quintet consists of Thornton alumni Stella Cho (’12, MM ’14, DMA ’22), Michael Kaufman (MM ’12,… Continue reading SAKURA Cello Quintet debuts Donald Crockett’s “Carving an Alphabet”


Alexander Lloyd Blake conducting a choir.

Tonality featured in L.A. Times for choral tribute to Ahmaud Arbery

June 2, 2025

Grammy Award-winning choral ensemble Tonality, led by USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumnus Alexander Lloyd Blake (DMA ’19), was featured in the Los Angeles Times on May 19. The article spotlights Tonality’s May 24 tribute show to Ahmaud Arbery, who in 2020 was murdered during a racially motivated hate crime. The program, “Put Your… Continue reading Tonality featured in L.A. Times for choral tribute to Ahmaud Arbery


Cellist Quenton Blache holding his instrument and sitting in a library.

Quenton Blache released debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray”

May 28, 2025

USC Thornton composition and cello performance alumnus Quenton Blache (‘23) released his debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray,” as a premiere on I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, the award-winning multimedia hub for living music creators powered by American Composers Forum (ACF). Written for string quintet and electronics, the piece is a collaboration between the… Continue reading Quenton Blache released debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray”


Concert pianist Rixiang Huang posing in front of a window indoors and looking off to the right of the camera.

Rixiang Huang releases new solo album of Scarlatti sonatas

May 15, 2025

Pianist and USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alumnus Rixiang Huang (DMA ’23) recently released his fourth solo album, Scarlatti: Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 30, via Naxos Records. The album features 17 sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, presenting a range of expressive and stylistic contrasts. “This recording represents a deeply personal milestone in my artistic journey, and I’m… Continue reading Rixiang Huang releases new solo album of Scarlatti sonatas


Composer Gibson Mahnke

Gibson Mahnke’s “Through this ocean glass” premieres at Hear Now Music Festival

May 12, 2025

USC Thornton Composition program student Gibson Mahnke’s piece Through this ocean glass premiered at the Hear Now Music Festival on April 13. The festival, which took place at 2200 Arts + Archives in Los Angeles, is one of several concerts spotlighting primarily young composers involved with university music programs. The next concert takes place at… Continue reading Gibson Mahnke’s “Through this ocean glass” premieres at Hear Now Music Festival


Pianist Esther Lee in concert.

Pianist Esther Lee makes Carnegie Hall debut

May 7, 2025

On March 16, USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alumna Esther Lee (GCRT ’15, DMA ’19) made her Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist for the world premiere of Elliott Bark’s Mercy for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra, presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York. Entitled “A Vision of Light,” the concert showcased choral and orchestral works… Continue reading Pianist Esther Lee makes Carnegie Hall debut


Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers perform with students.

Amanda Nova plays with Yo-Yo Ma at fundraiser celebration for LAUSD instrument repair program

April 30, 2025

USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program student Amanda Nova played with cellist Yo-Yo Ma at a fundraiser event on April 6, celebrating a $1 million gift to “The Last Repair Shop” campaign. Donations to the fundraiser will help safeguard the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) program providing 130,000 free, repaired instruments for students. A Fairfax… Continue reading Amanda Nova plays with Yo-Yo Ma at fundraiser celebration for LAUSD instrument repair program


Andrew Shulman to teach masterclasses and perform in concerts around the UK and Ireland

April 28, 2025

USC Thornton Strings department faculty member Andrew Shulman will be teaching masterclasses and performing in concerts in the United Kingdom and Ireland in May. The masterclasses will take place at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin on May 12, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on May 14, the Royal College… Continue reading Andrew Shulman to teach masterclasses and perform in concerts around the UK and Ireland


Violin and guitar duo, ArcoStrum.

ArcoStrum perform in “Musicians on the Rise” concert at Kaufman Music Center

April 23, 2025

USC Thornton DMA candidate in Classical Guitar Tengyue (Ty) Zhang and Strings program alumnus Strauss Shi (MM ’19), now known as ArcoStrum, performed at the Kaufman Music Center on April 4 as part of the “Musicians on the Rise” concert series. The violin-guitar duo reimagines Chinese traditional music, modern rock and classical masterworks. ArcoStrum was… Continue reading ArcoStrum perform in “Musicians on the Rise” concert at Kaufman Music Center